Peace in the Chaos

When Life Laughs at Your Plans

One moment, I’m sipping my tea at LAX, scrolling through my itinerary, casually thinking about my layover in Fiji and how nice it’ll be to visit family in Brisbane. The next? My sister is texting me in full panic mode about the biggest cyclone to hit Brisbane in 50 years—and how they’re closing the airports.

Excuse me… what?

A few years ago, this would have sent me into a tailspin of anxiety—frantically refreshing weather updates, stress-eating overpriced airport snacks, and generally losing my mind over things I couldn’t control. But this time? I prayed, let it go, and settled into peace.

Why? Because I’ve learned something crucial: peace isn’t about having perfect circumstances—it’s about trusting the One who holds them.

“Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.” – Psalm 119:165

That verse? It’s not just theory to me anymore. It’s real. So let’s talk about how we actually find peace when life serves up a storm—literally.

Cyclones, Delays, and Divine Detours

So here’s where things got interesting.

At first, the cyclone was set to hit Thursday. Then Friday. Then Saturday. Meanwhile, I was flying into Fiji, uncertain if I’d even make it to Brisbane anytime soon.

My sister? Worried.

Me? Que sera, sera.

I had two choices:

1. Stress about it, refresh my phone every five minutes, and live in a constant state of tension.

2. Pray, trust God, and take things as they come.

I chose option two. Not because I’m naturally chill, but because I’ve practiced surrendering control.

“God is not a God of confusion but of peace.” – 1 Corinthians 14:33

Did I know what was going to happen? No.

Did I know Who was in control? Yes.

That was enough. Instead of freaking out, I enjoyed my unexpected two-day stay in Fiji, waiting for the storm to pass.

Soul Insights: Finding Peace When Plans Fall Apart

1. Peace is a Decision, Not a Feeling

I used to think peace just happened—that it was a feeling I’d magically have when everything was going right. But real peace is a choice. It’s deciding to trust God even when things are messy and unpredictable.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” – Philippians 4:6

I could have chosen to be anxious. Instead, I chose prayer, gratitude, and trust. That made all the difference.

2. Surrender Isn’t Giving Up—It’s Leveling Up

There’s a difference between giving up and handing things over to God.

Giving up says, “I have no control, and I hate it.”

Surrender says, “I have no control, and I trust God anyway.”

When I stopped obsessing over the cyclone updates, I didn’t lose anything—I gained peace. My situation didn’t change, but my perspective did.

“Let go or be dragged.” – Zen Proverb

3. Delays Are Divine Appointments

What if the detours and disruptions in our lives aren’t interruptions—but actually God’s redirections?

I may not have planned a two-day stay in Fiji, but maybe God planned it for me. Maybe there’s something or someone here I’m supposed to encounter.

“Sometimes when things are falling apart, they may actually be falling into place.” – Unknown

God’s delays are often disguised blessings.

4. Worry is Borrowing Trouble That Hasn’t Happened Yet

At one point, my sister was freaking out about the cyclone, and I totally understood why. But I also realized—things were changing every minute.

One moment, the storm was hitting Thursday. Then Friday. Then Saturday.

If I had spent my time worrying, I would have exhausted myself over something that wasn’t even certain.

“Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength.” – Corrie Ten Boom

Instead of wasting energy on what-ifs, I focused on what was real in the moment.

5. God’s Peace is an Anchor, Not a Life Raft

A life raft helps you escape the storm.

An anchor keeps you steady through it.

I used to think peace meant escaping difficulties. Now, I know peace is staying grounded in God, even when the waves rise.

Jesus Calming the Storm – Mark 4:35-41

The disciples were panicking, thinking they were about to drown. Meanwhile, Jesus was asleep. He wasn’t bothered by the storm—because He knew who controlled it.

God’s peace isn’t about avoiding storms—it’s about standing firm in the middle of them.

Final Thoughts: The Storm May Come, But Peace is a choice

Storms—literal and figurative—are a part of life.

Flights get delayed. Plans get changed. Things don’t always go our way.

But our peace? That’s non-negotiable.

Psalm 119:165 reminds us that when we love and trust God’s Word, we won’t stumble. That means when chaos hits:

✅ Instead of panicking, we pray.

✅ Instead of worrying, we worship.

✅ Instead of stressing, we surrender.

And when we do? We find a peace that doesn’t make sense to the world but makes perfect sense in the presence of God.

So, the next time your plans fall apart, try this:

• Pause. Pray. Release. Let go of what you can’t control.

• Shift your perspective. Look for the lesson or blessing in the detour.

• Trust that God is working behind the scenes. He’s already gone ahead of you.

“Faith is not about everything turning out okay. Faith is about being okay no matter how things turn out.” – Unknown

I don’t know what’s coming next on this trip, but I do know this: I’m not worried.

And that is what peace looks like.

Over to You: How Do You Find Peace?

Have you ever had a situation where things didn’t go as planned, but God worked it out anyway? How do you remind yourself to trust when life gets chaotic?

Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear your stories. Let’s encourage one another!

Closing Thought

Peace isn’t about having a problem-free life. It’s about having an unwavering trust in a problem-solving God. And that’s the kind of peace that no storm can shake.

Soul Path Insights